Princess Street Urban Garden

Princess Street Urban Garden, Shepherdstown, WV

The question I get asked the most often is “This is a community garden, right?” Well, the answer is yes and no. In January 2006 Chris Crawford and I purchased our home on Princess Street and immediately starting restoring it. Nine months later the house was done and I had more time on my hands. Prior to moving to Shepherdstown, I had a huge organic garden West of Winchester with my ex-husband and I longed for a garden space again.

The Princess Street Urban Garden (PSUG) was originally the back yard of what is now the Azad’s Rug Store, that was overgrown with tall grass and weeds. The yard had large rocks and pieces of driftwood that was being used as “landscaping”. In the fall of 2008, I approached local businessman John Christman, who owns the property, to ask if I could turn the unused yard into a vegetable garden. I offered to repair the picket fence, plant the area between the fence and sidewalk with perennials and John could have anything he wanted out of the garden. He agreed.
Meanwhile I met Shep Ogden, who had recently moved back to the area and was interested in helping in the garden. I was thrilled since Shep is a nationally known organic gardener and author of several gardening books. Shep and I set out removing the rocks/driftwood, removing the sod , tilling the space once and digging the over 25 raised beds. Chris was busy repairing the fence and removing the dirt over a brick walkway we discovered while preparing the ground. With the fence repaired and all of the extra dirt from the unearthed sidewalk, we made more beds with the rocks that now house flowers and a large raspberry patch.
Shep helped the first year and a half until he bought a home in Bakerton where is own garden now keeps him busy. In those first 2 years the garden took on a life of it’s own. People started coming by to see what we were planting and how everything was growing. The Back Ally Garden Tour asked us to be on their tour and have every year since.
I will be out there working and anytime anyone passes by and wants to come in, I’ll throw the gate open and welcome them into my wonderfully, peaceful sanctuary. The garden is 96’ long and I start planting in late February or early March depending upon the weather conditions. I grow peas, greens, cabbage, broccoli, beets, radishes, carrots, tomatoes, peppers, corn, beans, eggplant, chard, kale, onions, and herbs, right smack in the middle of Shepherdstown. Many people come by to ask gardening questions and many come by to see the progress and get inspired to go home and do their own. So although it’s my garden, I love to share it with those that pass by, taking a break from the work, leaning over the fence for a neighborly chat or to meet a new friend visiting our wonderful town.
Lori Robertson
Recorder for the Corporation of Shepherdstown, President of Shepherdstown, WV Street Fest, Inc and a grateful resident of Shepherdstown.